it is clear that my rating reflects the very fact that i am watching this in 2017… i mean the caricatural play of the actors largely bothered me, they go for it like, they really really go for it. but hey, that was 1924 so.

Extraordinary cinema. The stills alone are more expressive than most films are today. Jannings plays his character to the edge, but is perfectly balanced by Murnau's fine-tuned vision, and Freund's cinematographic grace. Devastating (enough that the silly ending got guilty pleasure points) for its relatability; plenty of ways, post-authority-fetish, for society to sell us our self-worth. 4.5

Murnau's parable delightfully shows that "it's not WHAT we are but WHO we are that counts". Lovingly restored and more innovative than one would think. Apparently this was the first ever film (??) to utilize the 'subjective camera', wherein we were able to see events through a character's eyes.

In spite of the affixed happy ending with its comedy-like moments the film is a stunning social drama with great camera work. Detlev Glanert did a great job in reconstructing and completing Giuseppe Becce's music.

some people probably angry with the deus ex machina ending, but i like it, to show the possibility of what cinema can achieve. the 'authorship consciousness' even before the theory of auteur or camera-stylo existed.

Great shots, lighting, effects and very easy to watch for a film of the twenties. Murnau was a genius and it's sad he didn't live long enough to cement his legacy. The ending I don't really like though...